Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Lucky you.” She made a face. “I’ll never know what Daddy sees in Lyrah or how she got her claws into him in the first place.”
“Yes, Slade said pretty much the same thing,” I remarked.
“You need to be careful of her while you’re here,” Jessina warned me. “Lyrah might pretend to be all sugar and sunshine but she hates the fact that Slade is the heir instead of her own son.”
“She does?” The news wasn’t really that surprising—Lyrah seemed like a jealous person.
“Yes, she does.” Jessina nodded gravely. “And she hates the fact that Slade has finally claimed his Fated Mate too.”
“Why? Because she doesn’t want to see him have any happiness?” I asked.
“Well, I’m sure that’s part of it, but mainly she’s mad because if you get pregnant with a son then that’s another heir standing between her boy and the Chieftainship of the Clan,” Jessina said. “She won’t let on, but I’m sure she’s planning to move Hrake into the top slot somehow. Of course, my father won’t believe it.” She made a face. “He won’t believe anything bad about her. Ugh—I’m so sick of living here with her!”
“Can you leave and go out on your own like Slade did?” I asked. That would have been out of the question for me back on L’Crist, but things seemed to be more progressive here on Rigelis Nine.
But Jessina shook her head.
“Unfortunately, no. By Clan Law, I can’t leave until my father approves my marriage and sets me free.”
“Well, will he?” I asked.
“That depends on if anyone has the nerve to ask to marry me.” She looked glum. “Of course, I know who I want to ask me, but he’ll never do it. Even though I’m sure we’d find out we’re Fated Mates if we could only spend some time together.”
“Really?” I asked, intrigued. “Who is it?”
Jessina leaned closer to me, her hands clutched together in her lap.
“You have to swear on She of the Four Faces that you won’t tell Slade because he would be so upset.”
“He would? Why?” I asked. “Doesn’t he like the guy?”
“Oh no—Slade loves him. He’s one of his best friends. It’s—”
But just at that moment, there was a loud knocking on the door.
“Girls? Whatever are you doing in there?” It was Lyrah’s voice, strident and irritating. “I know it can’t take that long to finish with your lady functions.”
Jessina rolled her eyes at me expressively and got up with a sigh.
“Coming, Lyrah!” she called, heading for the door.
“That’s ‘Mother’ to you, young lady,” Lyrah snapped as Jessina opened the door. “And what’s taking you so long? It’s almost time for dinner! You barely have time to freshen up and change.”
“Sorry,” I said humbly as we trooped out of the elaborately decorated powder room. “I’m afraid my stomach was a bit upset.”
“Hmmph.” Lyrah frowned suspiciously at me. “Very well—I’ll take you to your suite so you can change for dinner.”
“What about Slade?” I asked. “Is he already there?”
Lyrah gave me a simpering look.
“Oh my dear, I’m afraid that your dear sweet hubby is talking business with his father in the study. You’ll probably see him at dinner but I wouldn’t expect to spend much time with him while you’re living here.”
“What? Why not?” The idea of not seeing Slade upset me—and not just because I was already feeling The Need again. Aside from Jessina, Slade was the only one I could trust in this whole huge house. Also, I realized, I missed him. I had only been gone from him for half an hour but it felt like ages since I’d seen him and breathed in his warm, spicy scent.
Lyrah opened her eyes wide.
“Why, because my own dear hubby has been putting off a lot of important matters while Slade was away from home,” she said. “So they have a lot of catching up to do, I’m afraid. Now come this way—I’ll show you your suite.”
I caught Jessina’s gaze and she rolled her eyes at me. But she only said,
“Bye, I’ll see you later.”
I waved at her and followed Lyrah down the hallway.
What else could I do?
42
AURORA
Slade’s family mansion was grander by far than the palace I had grown up in. But though wealth was displayed everywhere, it was overdone and gaudy. “Garish” my mother would have said, if she could have seen it.
We went down a long hallway that had expensive looking artwork every few feet. There was a long, dark purple fur carpet rolled over the beautiful parquet floor, which in my opinion was the only elegant looking part of the place.
Lyrah walked a little ahead of me, telling me what every piece of art was and how much it had cost. Her large, balloon breasts jiggled as she stalked down the hallway on her stilt-like heels and her full behind twitched with every move. I wondered if that was what Slade’s father saw in her. It certainly wasn’t her personality.